Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department is working with the Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority on a strategy to help tackle digital exclusion in financial services, particularly for older or disabled people who do not use mobile devices.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Tackling digital exclusion, which disproportionately impacts certain demographics including older and disabled people, is a priority for Government. That’s why we published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan in February 2025, which sets out our immediate actions to boost digital inclusion.
Alongside this, DSIT is working closely with HM Treasury on the implementation of the Financial Inclusion Strategy to address the barriers consumers face in accessing the financial services products they need.
The Government is working closely with industry on the commitment to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament, which will provide individuals and businesses across the country with cash and banking services. Over 240 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 190 are already open.
Asked by: Darren Paffey (Labour - Southampton Itchen)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that patients with the rare genetic form of Motor Neurone Disease within Hampshire have timely access to Tofersen; and what assessment he has made of regional disparities that prevent this being available across the NHS.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing authoritative, evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of resources. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance.
NICE has selected tofersen for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis caused by SOD1 gene mutations as a topic for guidance development through its Highly Specialised Technology (HST) programme. The HST programme appraises medicines for the treatment of very rare, and often very severe diseases and evaluates whether they can be considered a clinically and cost-effective use of NHS resources. NICE is working with the company to confirm timelines for this evaluation. If NICE is able to recommend tofersen in draft guidance, NHS England is committed to exploring an interim funding agreement with Biogen to use the Innovative Medicines Fund to expedite NHS commissioning of the treatment as soon as a positive recommendation is made by NICE.
No assessment has been made of the extent of regional inequities in the provision of early access programmes for innovative treatments and people living with SOD1 motor neurone disease. Participation in company-led early access schemes is decided at an individual NHS trust level, and under these programmes, the cost of the drug is free to both the patients taking part in it, and to the NHS, although NHS trusts must still cover administration costs and provide clinical resources to deliver the EAP. NHS England has published guidance for integrated care systems (ICS) on free of charge medicines schemes, providing advice on potential financial, resourcing, and clinical risks. ICSs should use the guidance to help determine whether to implement any free of charge scheme including assessing suitability and any risks in the short, medium, and long term. The guidance is available at the following link:
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much funding has been made available through the British Business Bank's National Security Strategic Investment Fund in each industrial sector in the (a) current financial year and (b) each remaining financial year of the current Parliament.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
NSSIF does not currently demark a portion of its allocation for solely defence investments, as investments are made in startups with technologies relevant across NS&D use cases. NSSIF invests in dual-use advanced technology companies to provide future capabilities to National Security and Defence (NS&D). Investments are made for the purpose of NS&D, though provide wider benefits to industrial strategy sectors. As part of the recent Spending Review process, NSSIF has been awarded up to £330m to invest in the financial years 2026-27 to 2029-30, as set out in the modern industrial strategy.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much funding has been allocated from the National Security Strategic Investment Fund to the defence sector in each financial year between 2025-26 and 2029-30.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
NSSIF does not currently demark a portion of its allocation for solely defence investments, as investments are made in startups with technologies relevant across NS&D use cases. NSSIF invests in dual-use advanced technology companies to provide future capabilities to National Security and Defence (NS&D). Investments are made for the purpose of NS&D, though provide wider benefits to industrial strategy sectors. As part of the recent Spending Review process, NSSIF has been awarded up to £330m to invest in the financial years 2026-27 to 2029-30, as set out in the modern industrial strategy.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much funding has been allocated to startups developing dual-use technologies through the National Security Strategic Investment Fund since 5 July 2024.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In the financial year 2024-25, NSSIF committed £14,863,000 for investments. Details of the portfolio are published on the NSSIF website.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage UK-based fintech founders to retain and expand their companies in the UK, including through targeted tax and regulatory incentives.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy identified Fintech as a priority growth opportunity, and set out the government’s ambition for the UK to remain a leading jurisdiction to start, scale and list a Fintech business.
The Strategy set out a series of measures to shape a regulatory environment for financial services that is proportionate, predictable and internationally competitive. These included working with the regulators to make it quicker and easier for new firms to achieve regulatory authorisation, as well as the launch of a joint FCA-PRA Scale-Up Unit, to enhance engagement with fast-growing, innovative regulated firms.
The Government published its Corporate Tax Roadmap at Budget 2024, which set out a number of commitments for this Parliament. Central to this is the commitment to cap Corporation Tax at 25 percent for the duration of this parliament, confirming the UK as the jurisdiction with the lowest rate in the G7. This is supplemented by some of the most generous business investment tax reliefs and allowances in the OECD - includes full expensing, R&D tax reliefs, and the Patent Box regime.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the confidence of financial technology company founders in the UK economy.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK has a long history as a powerhouse of financial services innovation, which has made the UK one of the most attractive locations worldwide to establish Fintechs. The Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy set out a comprehensive package of reforms to maintain the UK’s global leadership in Fintech.
The Government is committed to making the UK the best place to start and grow a business, recognising the importance of a competitive investment environment for economic growth. The UK is already the best place in Europe to establish a business, and, to make it even easier for entrepreneurs to scale and stay in the UK, the most recent Budget set out a series of measures which will help unlock billions in investment, expand tax reliefs, and make government a better customer for innovative businesses.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department is taking steps to help ensure that financial services firms offer alternatives to mobile phone authentication for customers who cannot use such technology.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring people can access the financial products and services they need. The Government is committed to ensuring high standards of financial inclusion across the financial services sector.
The Payment Services Regulations 2017 require firms to apply strong customer authentication when users access their payment account online, initiate an electronic payment or carry out any action through a remote channel (e.g. via the internet) which may carry a risk of payment fraud, unless an exemption applies (e.g. for low-value purchases). Firms are able to choose which methods of authentication they apply.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is independent of the Government, issues detailed standards for firms on strong customer authentication. The FCA expects firms to develop strong customer authentication solutions that work for all groups of consumers, including those with protected characteristics. This means it may be necessary for firms to provide different methods of authentication, for example when customers face difficulties accessing or using a mobile device.
The FCA also requires authorised financial services firms to comply with their ‘Consumer Duty’, which requires them to deliver good outcomes for retail customers. The Consumer Duty has rules and guidance covering key aspects of the firm-customer relationship. For example, it requires firms to ensure that the design of the product or service meets the needs, characteristics and objectives of their target consumer market. More detail on the Consumer Duty can be found on the FCA’s website: https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/consumer-duty
It is important that people are able to take advantage of digital innovation, and the opportunities this presents, to manage their money more effectively. This is why the issues of access to banking and digital inclusion have been considered as key areas of focus in the Government's recently published Financial Inclusion Strategy.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the UK Space Agency's report entitled Size and health of the UK space industry 2024, updated on 20 August 2025, when she will publish data on the contribution of the space industry to (a) GDP and (b) GVA for (i) 2023/24 and (ii) 2024/25.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The ‘Size and Health of the UK Space Industry’ is an annual study published by UK Space Agency. This study includes a measure of GVA (Gross Value-Added) for the sector, as well as an estimate for the percentage share of GDP for activities underpinned by satellite services. Due to the lag in financial reporting, the 2026 report will cover 2023/24 data, and the data for 2024/25 will follow in 2027.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will take steps to increase competition in the telecoms tower market.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The government is committed to a competitive mobile market where consumers and business have access to high-quality, secure and affordable connectivity. We will publish a Mobile Market Review call for evidence in the coming months to help better understand how technological, structural and financial changes could impact the industry’s ability to invest in widespread high-quality connectivity, this includes impacts on the mobile tower market.
The CMA and Ofcom have the duty to promote competition and protect consumers within telecoms markets. Where they identify anti-competitive behaviour, they have powers to investigate and implement measures to promote competition. Government works with these regulators where appropriate.